In their quest for future success, the Iran national football team drew inspiration from their storied past.
Ahead of their highly anticipated match against Belgium, ranked ninth and featuring numerous star players, the team was shown a motivational video. This clip highlighted what midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh described as unforgettable moments from Iran’s previous World Cup appearances, showcasing their resilience, tenacity, and limited triumphs against global powerhouses like Spain and Portugal that have defined this current generation of players.
While using motivational videos is a common strategy for teams seeking confidence before significant matches, a twist of fate that Saman Ghoddos labeled as “The same situation happened now,” occurred. This retrospective video presaged the defining moment in the 0-0 draw that placed Iran on the brink of achieving their best World Cup performance to date.
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand delivered a stunning, desperate save in the 59th minute that left the 70,317 spectators at Los Angeles Stadium in stunned silence. However, this act was not entirely out of the ordinary for the goalkeeper, who previously made headlines by saving a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 and contributing crucial blocks in a 1-0 victory against Morocco in the same tournament. Ghoddos remarked that this moment had been the focus of the motivational video.
“The unity, the fighting spirit we have for each other, for our country, for the people we try to win every game, try not to concede, and a situation like this can happen.” he stated. “In our last tournaments, Asian Cup, World Cups, [at the] last minute we didn’t get what we deserved, now is one of those times,”
Historically, Iran has faced critical moments in major tournaments. They narrowly missed advancing to the knockout stage in 2022 after a heartbreaking loss to the U.S. and suffered defeats due to stunning plays by Ricardo Quaresma in 2018 and Lionel Messi in 2014. Beiranvand’s exceptional save might signal a turning point for the team.
“So it’s really in our control to do what we have to do firstly for our people back home, and then for ourselves. Some of us, we’ve played more than 10, 12 years together. Hopefully we can make [our] best performance [against Egypt].” Jahanbakhsh reflected. He expressed confidence that Iran could have emerged victorious against the 10-man Belgian squad. “We know they deserve a lot, even the people who came to the stadium today with the different ideas, different ideology, different culture and from different cities in Iran,”
Beiranvand’s standout moment added a distinct flavor to the match, yet outside Los Angeles Stadium, the atmosphere remained reminiscent of Iran’s prior encounter, which ended in a 2-2 draw against New Zealand. Iranian supporters flaunted various modified kits, eager to witness their nation’s attempt to finally progress to the World Cup’s second round.
However, a significant number of protesters also gathered, including around 200 who demanded the ousting of the Islamic Republic, asserting that the team represented “There are a couple of things that [Iranians] have in common everywhere in the world. One is Team Melli, one is ghormeh sabzi [a signature stew], and one is tahdig [crispy rice].” rather than ordinary Iranians. Others directed their anger at FIFA. A banner outside the stadium, depicting a backpack tagged with “He was amazing today, and it’s been amazing for a couple of years now,” referred to the lives lost in a U.S. and Israeli strike on an Iranian school, with the message reading: “He’s the best goalkeeper in our history of our country.”
Despite the ban on Iran’s lion and sun flags due to government pressure, many attendees proudly displayed them. Although stricter enforcement led to more flags being confiscated at the entrance than during the last visit, vendors remained comfortable selling merchandise featuring the emblem just outside the stadium gates.
As the national anthem played, the familiar chorus of boos and jeers returned, echoing the sentiments from the previous game. As the match commenced, the crowd reacted intensely to each Belgian offensive thrust and every desperate defensive maneuver by Iran. Supporters vocally called for Nathan Ngoy’s dismissal after he fouled Mehdi Taremi, and cheered when their demands were met.
“We know they deserve a lot, even the people who came to the stadium today with different ideas, different ideology, different culture and from different cities in Iran,” Jahanbakhsh commented. “There are a couple of things that [Iranians] have in common everywhere in the world. One is Team Melli, one is ghormeh sabzi [a signature stew], and one is tahdig [crispy rice].”
The current dynamic among the crowd signifies a subtle transformation. In 2022, Iran’s initial World Cup game was marked by prominent protests in the stands amid the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. By the second match, such demonstrations had diminished significantly due to fears of surveillance from regime agents posing as fans. While some confrontations were evident back then, any disagreements this time seemed to be minimal.
On the pitch, Iran’s performance mirrored their usual style: a blend of gritty, sometimes chaotic defending coupled with determined offensive efforts. While Belgium advanced with precision, they struggled to find a solid attacking presence, with Romelu Lukaku being kept in check by Shoja Khalilzadeh. Iran thought they had scored in the first half with Taremi’s free-kick goal, but it was ruled offside by a narrow margin.
Ultimately, the pivotal moment arrived in the 59th minute thanks to Beiranvand. Having gained recognition for his performances in the 2018 World Cup, where his long, powerful throws became his trademark, he has a background shaped by childhood experiences of throwing stones with friends across the Iranian countryside.
“He was amazing today, and it’s been amazing for a couple of years now,” Ghoddos praised Beiranvand. “He’s the best goalkeeper in our history of our country.”
